Traffic light, and method of traffic control with traffic light

ABSTRACT

A traffic light has three individual elements for producing a green signal, a yellow signal, and a red signal, and control unit for controlling the producing unit, the control units being formed and operating so that the element producing the green signal first generates a permanent non-blinking green light and thereafter the same element producing the permanent green light generates a green light which flashes for three-six seconds immediately before the yellow signal is produced, to give drivers an additional period of time to decide whether or not to stop when the yellow signal appears.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of patentapplication Ser. No. 09/844,745.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to traffic lights and trafficcontrol and can be used on roads which have a traffic light for trafficcontrol.

[0003] Traffic lights are known and widely utilized. A conventionaltraffic light is formed as a device in which successively a green signalis turned on, then a yellow signal is turned on, and then a red signalis turned on, to signal to pedestrians and motorists correspondinglythan that when the green signal is turned on it is allowed to proceed,when the red signal is turned on it is not allowed to proceed, and whenthe yellow signal is turned on, next a red signal will follow. U.S. Pat.No. 4,908,616 discloses a traffic light with four lights, including red,yellow, green and blinking green light elements controlled independentlyfrom one another. It is believed that the existing traffic lights can befurther improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea traffic light and a method of controlling a traffic light which arefurther improvement of the existing traffic lights and methods ofcontrolling the same.

[0005] In keeping with these objects and with others which will becomeapparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides,briefly stated, in a traffic light which has three individual elementsfor exhibiting a green signal, a yellow signal, and a red signal; andmeans for controlling formed so that the element producing the greensignal first generates a permanent (non-blinking) green signal andthereafter the same element generates a green signal which flashes forthree-six seconds immediately before the yellow signal is produced, soas to give drivers an additional period of time to decide whether or notto stop when the yellow signal appears.

[0006] In accordance with another feature of the present invention amethod of controlling a traffic light is proposed, in accordance withwhich a green signal, yellow signal, a red signal are produced by threedifferent elements; and the signals are controlled so that the elementproducing the green signal first generates a permanent (non-blinking)green light and thereafter the same element producing the permanentgreen light generates a green light which flashes for three-six secondsimmediately before it changes to the yellow signal is produced forgiving drivers an additional period of time to decide whether or not tostop when the yellow signal appears.

[0007] When the light is designed and its control is performed inaccordance with the present invention, it constitutes a furtherimprovement of the existing solutions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 of the drawings is a view showing a traffic light inaccordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A traffic light in accordance with the present invention includesa conventional signal producing device which is identified in thedrawings with reference numeral 1 and can include for example a casing 2and three light elements formed for example as windows 3, 4 and 5 forexhibiting a green signal, a yellow signal, and a red signal. Theconstruction of such a device is well known and therefore does notrequire additional explanations. The windows 3, 4, 5 can be providedwith colored transparent cover discs with sources of light locatedbehind them, as well known in the art, so that when a correspondingsource of light is turned on, light passes through the correspondingcolored cover disk and a corresponding color signal appears, such as thegreen signal, the yellow signal, and the red signal.

[0010] The inventive traffic light further has a control unit 6 whichcontrols turning on and off of the light sources located behind thecolor cover discs 3, 4, and 5. The control unit 6 is also well known inthe art, so that its detailed construction does not have to be explainedin detail.

[0011] In accordance with the present invention the control unitoperates so that the traffic light produces a red signal is produced bya red signal producing element (the light and the red colored window), ayellow signal by a yellow signal producing element (the light and theyellow colored windows) and a green signal is produced by a single greensignal producing element (the light and the green colored window). Inaccordance with the present invention, the control unit controls thegreen signal producing element so that the green signal producingelement first generates a permanent (non-blinking) green signal andthereafter the same element exhibiting the permanent green lightgenerates a green signal which flashes for three-six seconds immediatelybefore the yellow signal is produced, so as to give drivers anadditional period of time to decide whether or not to stop when theyellow signal appears the green signal which flashes for three-sixseconds before the yellow signal.

[0012] In other words, in addition to turning on the light sourceslocated behind the colored cover discs 3, 4, and 5 so that the lightsources operate successively, the control unit 6 controls the lightsource located behind the green cover to operate it so that the greensignal producing element first generates a permanent (non-blinking)green signal and thereafter the same element producing the permanentgreen light generates a green signal which flashes for three-six secondsimmediately before the yellow signal is produced, so as to give driversan additional period of time to decide whether or not to stop when theyellow signal appears.

[0013] For producing the permanent, non-blinking green signal, electriccurrent can be supplied to the light source of the green signalproducing element for example directly, while for producing the blinkinggreen signal, electric current can be supplied to the same light sourcethrough a pulsating unit.

[0014] As a result, an additional period of time is provided for driversto decide whether to stop or not to stop when the yellow signal willappear. It is believed that this increases the safety of driving. At thesame time the same green signal producing element is used for generationof a non-blinking green light and a blinking green light.

[0015] It will be understood that each of the elements described above,or two or more together, may also find a useful application in othertypes of constructions and methods differing from the types describedabove.

[0016] While the invention has been illustrated and described asembodied in a traffic light, it is not intended to be limited to thedetails shown, since various modifications and structural changes may bemade without departing in any way from the spirit of the presentinvention.

[0017] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal thegist of the present invention that others can, by applying currentknowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omittingfeatures that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constituteessential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of thisinvention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:
 1. A traffic light, comprising threeindividual elements for producing a green signal, a yellow signal, and ared signal; and control means for controlling said producing means, saidcontrol means being formed and operating so that the element producingthe green signal first generates a permanent non-blinking green lightand thereafter the same element producing the permanent green lightgenerates a green light which flashes for three-six seconds immediatelybefore the yellow signal is produced, to give drivers an additionalperiod of time to decide whether or not to stop when the yellow signalappears.
 2. A method of controlling a traffic light, comprising thesteps of producing a green signal, a yellow signal, and a red signal bythree individual elements; and controlling the producing of the signalsso that the element producing the green signal first generates apermanent non-blinking green light and thereafter the same element whichgenerates the permanent green light generates a green light whichflashes for three-six seconds immediately before the yellow signal isproduced, for giving drivers an additional period of time to decidewhether or not to stop when the yellow signal appears.